Convertibles: Why not more popular?
02-22-2016, 04:29 PM
#41
If you take two identical cars except one is a convertible and one isn't, the one that isn't has better performance. In the C7 the difference isn't has much but it is there. I think the convertible is about 200 lbs heaver.
02-22-2016, 04:33 PM
#42
Racer
02-22-2016, 04:33 PM
#43
Race Director
I don't believe taking the top off a coupe equates with a true convertible. You've still got the whole back of the coupe behind you. In a true convertible, all that disappears. All you have behind you is open air. The best of both worlds is not just a big sunroof, but a hard top like the BMW above or my SL500, where the completely metal top folds up and disappears into the trunk space. With both those cars, top up looks pretty cool, and so does top down. With the rag top, I agree. Not nearly as good lines. To each his own and all that. Thanks for all the thoughtful replies.
BMW 428i coupe (with automatic) weighs 3,495 pounds. The BMW 428i convertible (with automatic) weighs 3,965 pounds (470 pounds MORE). Some of that is the added structure needed for rigidity, but a lot of that weight is also the top and all the mechanisms needed to make it work. These numbers are straight off BMW's web site.
Second, hardtop convertibles EAT up trunk space when the top is down.
Jimmy
02-22-2016, 04:35 PM
#44
Race Director
Jimmy
Last edited by jimmyb; 02-22-2016 at 04:36 PM.
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02-22-2016, 04:38 PM
#45
Racer
I had a C6 coupe and decided on a C7 vert. I only rarely took the top off the C6 because the interior was stupid windy at highway speeds with it off and it pretty much took all of the luggage space. I put the top down on my C7 vert all the time and still have a usable trunk, and it's less windy inside on the highway than the C6 coupe was with the top off.
Isn't it nice that we all don't like exactly the same thing and actually have different options available to us? To each their own.
The "douchebags drive verts" comment is far too stupid to address.
Isn't it nice that we all don't like exactly the same thing and actually have different options available to us? To each their own.
The "douchebags drive verts" comment is far too stupid to address.
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vinnie12345 (04-09-2016)
02-22-2016, 04:38 PM
#46
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St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
Lots of wild-*** guessing and bad info from some in this thread about which model is quieter, has less wind buffeting at high speeds and what the weight difference really is between a coupe and vert.
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02-22-2016, 04:38 PM
#47
So that is like giving the coupe about 10 hp more or the convertible 10 hp less. Folks were spending a thousand bucks for NPP and 5 hp.
02-22-2016, 04:41 PM
#48
Race Director
Sorry, but the chassis is NOT more rigid than the coupe on a C7. The convertible C7 chassis is stiffer than a C6 coupe.
02-22-2016, 04:43 PM
#50
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I don't think weight is much of an issue, but the trunk space issue on a Corvette is substantial. Specs say you get 15 cubic feet with a coupe, 10 cubic feet with a vert. Big suitcases simply won't fit. Two years ago I took a 6788 mile road trip in my SL500, top up, and our two small suitcases left me with a few inches to spare. They barely fit in there. It was 7.9 cubic feet, a bit smaller than the vette.
02-22-2016, 04:49 PM
#52
Race Director
Chevrolet list the base weight for a coupe at 3,298 pounds. A convertible weighs 3,362 pounds, an increase of 1.2%. 1.2% of 460HP is 5.52HP. If you can feel a 5.52HP (or 10HP for that matter) increase/decrease in a 460HP car in ANY shape, form, or fashion, than you're a better man than me. BTW, NO ONE is buying NPP for the additional 5HP...
Jimmy
Last edited by jimmyb; 02-22-2016 at 04:50 PM.
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vinnie12345 (04-09-2016)
02-22-2016, 04:50 PM
#53
Drifting
I've had both. The Vert with the power roof will make you run top down much more often than a coupe since it is so easy to engage. Main drawback is a tighter trunk... as for noise, sure a bit more. But there is nothing quite like a fully open top. The targa roof is just not the same.
At lower speeds, the vert, top up is QUIETER.
NPP is a must, as you get the noise when you want it... ie: top down and not when the top is up.
Top down driving is NOT for the major highway, but rather the beautiful two lane country roads... nothing can touch it there...
the Lines of the car are awesome with the top down, not so much with the top up... but that is the comprimise... but like i said, you'll have the top down in a vert, 50X more than the targa roof off.
My C7 is a coupe... guess i just felt like a change... but there isn't anything at all wrong with a vert. I comprimised and got the transparent top so i feel like i have the top down all the time.
funny... i don't feel like a douchebag ?
At lower speeds, the vert, top up is QUIETER.
NPP is a must, as you get the noise when you want it... ie: top down and not when the top is up.
Top down driving is NOT for the major highway, but rather the beautiful two lane country roads... nothing can touch it there...
the Lines of the car are awesome with the top down, not so much with the top up... but that is the comprimise... but like i said, you'll have the top down in a vert, 50X more than the targa roof off.
My C7 is a coupe... guess i just felt like a change... but there isn't anything at all wrong with a vert. I comprimised and got the transparent top so i feel like i have the top down all the time.
funny... i don't feel like a douchebag ?
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02-22-2016, 04:55 PM
#54
Team Owner
ExactlyI had a C6 coupe and decided on a C7 vert. I only rarely took the top off the C6 because the interior was stupid windy at highway speeds with it off and it pretty much took all of the luggage space. I put the top down on my C7 vert all the time and still have a usable trunk, and it's less windy inside on the highway than the C6 coupe was with the top off.
Isn't it nice that we all don't like exactly the same thing and actually have different options available to us? To each their own.
The "douchebags drive verts" comment is far too stupid to address.
Isn't it nice that we all don't like exactly the same thing and actually have different options available to us? To each their own.
The "douchebags drive verts" comment is far too stupid to address.
02-22-2016, 05:04 PM
#55
I've had eight corvettes 6 verts and two coupes one of the coupes was a 2003 z06. I realize that most tracks don't allow convertibles without roll over protection. My last vert was a 427, just sold it was great with the top down for 6 or 7 months in Fl. If you ride to dinner in your vert with the top down and it's cloudy I just run the top up to be safe. Might do this several times a day if I am in and out of the car several times. Much bigger process with the coupe. As far as track days I am to poor to wreck or maintain a c7 coupe that what the 2003 z06 is for . Everyone has a preference mine convertible. C7 z06 at the plant now waiting to be shipped
02-22-2016, 05:08 PM
#56
Race Director
I've had both. The Vert with the power roof will make you run top down much more often than a coupe since it is so easy to engage. Main drawback is a tighter trunk... as for noise, sure a bit more. But there is nothing quite like a fully open top. The targa roof is just not the same.
At lower speeds, the vert, top up is QUIETER.
NPP is a must, as you get the noise when you want it... ie: top down and not when the top is up.
Top down driving is NOT for the major highway, but rather the beautiful two lane country roads... nothing can touch it there...
the Lines of the car are awesome with the top down, not so much with the top up... but that is the comprimise... but like i said, you'll have the top down in a vert, 50X more than the targa roof off.
My C7 is a coupe... guess i just felt like a change... but there isn't anything at all wrong with a vert. I comprimised and got the transparent top so i feel like i have the top down all the time.
funny... i don't feel like a douchebag ?
At lower speeds, the vert, top up is QUIETER.
NPP is a must, as you get the noise when you want it... ie: top down and not when the top is up.
Top down driving is NOT for the major highway, but rather the beautiful two lane country roads... nothing can touch it there...
the Lines of the car are awesome with the top down, not so much with the top up... but that is the comprimise... but like i said, you'll have the top down in a vert, 50X more than the targa roof off.
My C7 is a coupe... guess i just felt like a change... but there isn't anything at all wrong with a vert. I comprimised and got the transparent top so i feel like i have the top down all the time.
funny... i don't feel like a douchebag ?
Or, we could live by Mark Twain's thought:
"Never argue with stupid people, they'll drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience"
Jimmy
02-22-2016, 05:08 PM
#57
I'm just curious. Why aren't convertibles more popular and/or more readily available. I see so few of them even in the high-volume dealerships. I know it cuts trunk space from 15 to 10 cubic feet, but 15 isn't very much either. If storage is an issue, buy a sedan! So it can't be that storage is the issue. I agree a top-up convertible is not as cool looking as the coupe, but the way that top slips down into storage is very cool. Are there any obvious issues I'm missing here? Is it just GM limiting production, or are they simply not very popular?
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02-22-2016, 05:14 PM
#58
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Several times "NPP" has been mentioned. What does that mean?
02-22-2016, 05:16 PM
#59
02-22-2016, 05:16 PM
#60
NPP is the Performance Exhaust option. Louder, angrier.
From a previous forum post:
"The NPP adds a solenoid butterfly valve to one exhaust outlet on each muffler. Changing the driver mode then changes the position of that butterfly to alter the amount of exhaust gas that goes through the baffles inside the muffler. These change from fully baffled in Weather/Eco/Tour to partially baffled in Sport and not baffled at all in Track Mode. This occurs because one of the outlets is practically a straight shot by-passing the mufflers and when closed fully it routes all the exhaust gas through a series of baffles and out to produce a more quiet sound."
From a previous forum post:
"The NPP adds a solenoid butterfly valve to one exhaust outlet on each muffler. Changing the driver mode then changes the position of that butterfly to alter the amount of exhaust gas that goes through the baffles inside the muffler. These change from fully baffled in Weather/Eco/Tour to partially baffled in Sport and not baffled at all in Track Mode. This occurs because one of the outlets is practically a straight shot by-passing the mufflers and when closed fully it routes all the exhaust gas through a series of baffles and out to produce a more quiet sound."
Last edited by graj6; 02-22-2016 at 05:17 PM.